December 2005
Short course
As more of us scale the learning curve of global warming, here is a need-to-know “class” on how to lessen the long-term effects. No worries, the only way to fail is to ignore climate change
By Heather Nordell
Keynote Speaker-Upper
On Oct. 27, global warming was officially encoded into the American mindset. That’s when Oprah Winfrey aired a show to discuss the fundamentals of climate changes. She staged sort of a Global Warming 101 course.
“It feels like the earth is being strangled, and it is fighting back,” said Winfrey.
Winfrey succeeded in raising climate consciousness where many others had faced mostly skepticism and silence, including former presidential candidate and Arizona senator John McCain.
The same day, King County staged its own conference, “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be—Planning for Planet Disruption.” Everybody is talking—and worrying—about climate change.
Global warming has polarized scientists and politicians alike. The new round of devastating hurricanes provided quite the wakeup call, along with rising gas prices, oil peak concerns and the Iraq War. Oprah’s show, after all, came after Katrina, not McCain’s angry pleadings in the U.S. Senate some time back.
You could argue most scientists are unified on the phenomenon of global warming, and the calls for action get louder and louder. But even now there are some holdouts.
Not Oprah, though.
We are Them: The Downside
“We are no longer able to think of ourselves as species tossed about by larger forces–now we are those larger forces. Hurricanes and thunderstorms and tornadoes become not the acts of God but acts of man.” -- Bill McKibben in his book The End of Nature
We see it happening now. Polar ice is melting, threatening the survival of polar animals and raising sea levels worldwide. The recent Green Festival in San Francisco advertised its event by asking the question, “Did you think you’d ever see the day when a polar bear would wish for an icemaker?”
Warming temperatures create conditions conducive to extreme weather—hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, fires and droughts. Many species and human communities stand vulnerable. Much of the world’s food and water supplies are at risk. Warmer temperatures create greater numbers of insects including malaria-transmitting mosquitoes and tree-eating bugs. The spruce bark beetle already destroyed 4 million acres of Alaskan spruce.
We know Earth has natural climate cycles. We know human activity is warming the planet at rates exceeding any in our history. Greenhouse gasses including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are trapped in our atmosphere, warming and changing our planet. People release these gasses by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas (although natural gas is much cleaner), cutting and burning carbon-rich forests and generating methane from landfills and agricultural animal waste.
We are Them: The Upside
“We are the environment. Global warming is the No. 1 human rights issue.” – Bill McKibben at the 2005 Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, Calif.
In the U.S., just less than 300 million people consumer 50 percent more energy than 731 million Europeans. We consume about 14 million more barrels of oil per day than China (population: greater than 1.3 billion), which is the world’s next largest oil consumer. In fact, it is estimated that the U.S. consumes 25 percent more oil per day than the rest of the world combined.
Sixty-two percent of Puget Sound’s carbon dioxide emissions are created by transportation. The remaining 38 percent includes power, factories, fires and garbage. Lesson learned: Transportation is an effective target for reducing your personal emissions. Here are some planet-altering ideas.
On the Road:
• Conserve. Carpool, bus, train, bicycle, walk and telecommute whenever possible. Some proof: Seattle downtown bike commuters alone prevent release of 3,600 tons of CO 2 each year.
• Drive an energy efficient car. If everyone in the U.S. had an energy efficient car, we would save 1.47 billion gallons of gasoline each year.
• Consider cleaner fuels such as biodiesel and natural gas. Any diesel vehicle can run on fossil-fueless biodiesel. Learn more: www.nwbiodiesel.com and www.fuelwerks.com
Local Forecast: Drier, Hotter Summers and Wetter Winters with Less Frost
In October, the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group issued a report (www.psat.wa.gov/climatechange) commissioned by the Washington Governor’s Office. It illustrates how our region will be affected over the next century. Wetter winter months with fewer frost days will be followed by drier, hotter summers. Over the next 10 to 30 years, worldwide temperatures will likely rise by three degrees Fahrenheit. Regional temperatures are expected to increase by two to four degrees by 2040. These may not sound high, but even subtle changes in climate produce destabilizing, long-term changes.
Our local mountain snow packs are receding quickly—not good news for skiers and especially the levels of our rivers and streams. Receding snow packs and fluctuating precipitation will increase chances of winter flooding and summer dryness that would stress our water supply, hydropower, agriculture, forests, fish habitat, fragile eco-systems, and local economy.
It will be a mess.
Water quality could be compromised. Coastal areas will be disturbed for people, birds, marine mammals and fish. What’s more, warmer waters harvest more algae bloom, which can make shellfish toxic for people to eat.
Answering the Alarm
Recognizing warnings, our local government took action. In February, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels adopted the Kyoto Protocol to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions. By October, 187 other mayors had joined him.
King County continues to purchase development rights to preserve forests and open space. In 2004, it bought 90,000 acres of the Snoqualmie Tree Farm. This is estimated to prevent 44,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next 50 years—equivalent to taking 11,000 cars off the road each year.
Nice job, guys.
Moreover, the county bought 235 hybrid busses and 140 cars. It is incorporating biodiesel into Metro bus and Solid Waste fleets. It created a large landfill gas-to-energy project, and has the largest fuel-cell projects of its kind in the world. Wastewater treatment systems were upgraded to capture more energy. The county established strict green building standards for government buildings. And they are developing plans so our region can adapt to the predicted impacts.
Unfortunately, not every municipal county in this country is operating on the same fast-track response to global warming.
“The days of the 3,000 mile Caesar salad are over.” – James Howard Kunstler in The End of Suburbia
The whole prospect of global warming can be overwhelming. The best strategy is to break down how we can buffet its toll, whether at home, in the community or when conducting business:
At Home:
• Buy locally produced food and products, and from locally-owned businesses.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. The EPA says if every American household replaced five conventional bulbs with five compact fluorescents, this would equal taking eight million cars of the road. Compact fluorescents, which look more like coils than bulbs, last eight to 15 times longer and use one-quarter of electricity compared to conventional bulbs.
• Use energy efficient appliances. Energy Star appliances have already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent.
• Turn off lights, unplug appliances and turn down your thermostat when not in use.
• Save trees. Use recycled, post-consumer toilet paper and other paper products.
• Invest in renewable energy. Ask your utility companies about green power.
• Air-dry your clothing when weather permits.
• Maintain adequate insulation to regulate the temperature in your home.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost.
In Your Community:
• Educate yourself about global warming. Here are some good resources:
www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200510/20051027/slide_20051027_350_101.jhtml
www.cses.washington.edu/cig/outreach/workshops/kc2005.shtml
www.climatesolutions.com
www.newdream.org
• Vote for officials and initiatives working to slow and prepare for global warming.
• Encourage political representatives to take action.
• Plant trees. It takes four trees to offset what a person does in one month. Visit www.americanforests.org to purchase a tree they will plant for you.
In Your Business:
• Commit to ongoing reduction in emissions.
• Use recycled, post-consumer paper and office products.
• Recycle paper, computers and electronics.
• Give incentives for ridesharing, bussing and cycling to work.
• Consider telecommuting programs when appropriate.
• Source from local businesses whenever possible.
The American Way
During this fall’s Bioneers Conference, author and activist Bill McKibben (www. billmckibben.com) said there is “no silver bullet to solve global warming.” Even the much-admired hydrogen is not a panacea, he explained.
We need to leverage every renewable source of energy while simultaneously reducing consumption.
While attending the 1992 Earth Summit, the first President Bush said, “The American way of life is not negotiable.”
This sentiment is echoed in today’s administration. But here’s the hitch: It would take four or more planets to sustain the world’s population if everyone consumed like Americans.
Last time anyone check, only one Earth is available—or inhabitable.
While material prosperity has nearly tripled since the 1950s, the Gallop polling organization reveals that Americans’ life satisfaction peaked in 1956.
“Community is the answer,” to changing our cultural dependence on consumption, says McKibben. We have to replace our dependence on oil consumption with something free but not easy: By building meaningful relationships with each other and our world.
Heather Nordell writes the monthly Green Lines column in our upfront Evergreen News section.
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